The local, annual, fundraising triathlon event TRI-ULTIMATE returns for it's third year on 27th September 2015. Run by local charity Hope for a Child, to help fund its charitable works in Malawi in east Africa, the event has raised a total of £30,200 over the past two years.

Emily Wild, Hope for a Child’s Fundraising Events Manager, told us: ‘We are expecting 300 participants this year, of which the majority will be members of teams from Guernsey workplaces. We get so many workplace teams because it offers a great social and team-building opportunity.’

Teams may include up to 10 members competing relay-style across 10 sections around the 32.6 mile course, although for those who want a real challenge there is the option for individuals to tackle the course alone.

Miss Wild continued: ‘We are offering participants a 16-week training plan leading up to the event, as well as training sessions delivered by professionals, designed to help them prepare and achieve personal fitness goals. The plan includes training tips, tasty, healthy recipes, as well as project updates from Malawi. We hope that the project updates - which mostly document the lives of people in Malawi - inspire participants to keep going with their training, encouraged by the fact that they are helping families in Malawi to reach their dreams while they pursue their own.’

The course begins with a swim across Pembroke Bay, continues with a cycling route along the West Coast roads, and ends with a cross country run using the coastal paths back at the north end of the island.

Miss Wild went on to add: ‘We are really lucky to have professional input from TRI Fitness, who have been providing training in the run up to the event, and will be helping out on the day. Because of their support, along with the generosity of Criteria Wealth Management and Trident Trust, who are our financial sponsors, 100% of the income received from the event will be used to fund our Girl’s Education Project in northern Malawi.’

The Girl’s Education Project aims to bring down the barriers preventing girls from pursuing primary education in Malawi.

Tom Herring, Hope for a Child’s Director of Program Quality and Development, explained how the project will do this: ‘Firstly we are helping parents to earn better incomes by enabling them to access basic financial services, and training in business and agriculture. This helps parents to be able to afford school uniforms and scholastic materials required for attendance, and to forgo the opportunity cost of keeping children at home to work.'

Mr Herring continued: ‘The second approach is to improve school facilities and infrastructure, such as upgrading inadequate roofing, constructing new girl’s toilets and providing desks. This encourages school attendance, particularly of girls who are disproportionately excluded by poor and dangerous facilities.’

The deadline for signing up to TRI-ULTIMATE is Friday 18th September. Places are capped at 300 total. Teams already signed up include Le Rondin School, First/Names Group and Mourant Ozannes.

To secure a place, or for more information, visit www.tri-ultimate.gg or call Emily Wild on (01481) 727547.

Images, left to right: TRI-ULTIMATE 2014 (3 images); TRI-ULTIMATE 2015 in Malawi; Mourant Ozannes team 2014; First/Names Group team 2015; Le Rondin School team 2015.